CAB80-8 — Page 193

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105

Similarly as regards low flying attack it would be reasonable to base our maximum destructive effort at 2,000 aircraft per month on the assumption that strength in A.A. guns and fighters will cause the enemy to concentrate on low flying attack.

It is suggested that amunition expenditure, based on this high ideal represents a reasonable maximım. Accepting a figure of 500 rounds of heavy and 200 rounds of light A.A. per aircraft, our maximum monthly requirements would be 350,000 rounds for heavy A. A. guns and 400,000 for light A.A. weapons.

6.

The above is not, however, the whole picture. A certain amount of ammunition must be held at the guns and a certain amount contiguous to them for immediate reinforcement. The rear echelons of supply are not tied down to the replenishment of any given guns or for that matter any given area. The problem is thus to hold sufficient "capital" ammunition plus the estimated expenditure in rear, which broadly speaking can be applied to offset air activity either in Great Britain or in France. This may be regarded as income. This principle can and should be applied to guns at Ports Abroad and to those supplied to customers.

7.

As regards the amount to be held as "capital", the systems of ammunition supply vary but it will be convenient to accept an overall figure of 1,200 R.F.G. for heavy guns and 1,500 R.P.G. for light guns, made up of a combination of :-

(i) (ii)

(iii)

ammunition at the gun itself.

ammunition for immediate reinforcement of a

group of gun stations.

ammunition for the reinforcement of guns dispersed

over a considerable area,

The problem is thus to provide a "capital" of

ammunition

plus the wastage figure, This latter 11gure is one of gradual growth up to the total indicated in Para. 5. (It will be noted that Ports Abroad have a special scale of "capital" ammunition owing to the time required to reinforce them. An arbitrary figure of 1,000 R.P.G. can be accepted for customers).

8.

Total "capital" requirements based on the considerations outlined in Para. 7 at various periods may be summarized as follows :

4.5"

No. of

3.7"

No. of

3"

No, of

40 m. m. No. of

guns. Capital, Guns. Capital. Guns: Capital. Guns. Capital.

Z + 6 342

2 + 12.412

440,000 800 920,000 540,000 1232 1,477,000

474

452

Z + 18.432

2 + 24.454

600,000 2229 2,764,000 660,000 3516 4,500,000 377

l.i. Total Capital Heavy A.A. guns about 4,500,000 rounds. Total Capital Light A.A. guns about 6,800,000 rounds,

432

500,000 372

558,000 464,000 704 1,056,000 412,000 2629 3,943,000 350,000 4523 6,793,000

5

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9. Wastage rates/...

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